Colton's Deadly Engagement

by Addison Fox

  “But I don’t cook anymore.” Serena sniffed. “I had no idea it would upset me so badly.”

  Darby bent to take the muffins out. She briefly toyed with apologizing but decided that new-mom hormones had way more to do with Serena’s reaction than any real upset over breakfast. Her faith was rewarded a few minutes later as they all sat around the table, digging in to the muffins.

  “I’m so sorry.” Serena waved the freshly buttered half of her muffin. “I’m not sure why I reacted like I did. These are amazing and I’m happy you made them.”

  “You’re welcome.” Darby finished slathering butter on her muffin top and broke off a piece. She was pleased with the outcome and slowly munched her breakfast when a vague thought struck her. “If Demi is pregnant, how is she eating?”

  Finn paused, his muffin partway to his mouth. “How’s she what?”

  “Demi. If she really is pregnant, how is she getting by? She’d need food under any circumstances, but if she’s an expectant mother she needs to take care of herself. How’s she doing that in hiding?”

  Carson looked up from where he helped soothe Lora with a pacifier. “Do you think that would pull her out of hiding?”

  “It might. Or it might mean she’s gone even farther to ground,” Darby said.

  “Why would it make her go into hiding?” Finn had stopped eating his muffin, his attention fully focused on her.

  “Well, it wouldn’t be too hard to stock up at one of those big stores that sells in bulk. She’d need perishables like milk and eggs on an ongoing basis but she could get by for a while if she stocked up on food and maybe protein drinks?”

  “All this is predicated on assuming she’s pregnant,” Finn added, voicing his thoughts out loud.

  “Even if she isn’t, she needs food.”

  Finn turned to Serena. “How sure are you that she’s pregnant?”

  “I don’t really know. But—” Serena considered “—it’s not like Demi to make things up, either. If she thought she was pregnant, she likely had a good reason.”

  “I don’t know why I didn’t think about this when you brought up the pregnancy.” Finn was already on his feet. He headed for the stove, snagging two more muffins and wrapping them in a napkin.

  “Where are you going?” Serena demanded.

  “I need to get Lotte and go over Demi’s apartment. See what we might find.”

  “You’ll need a warrant,” Carson pointed out.

  The rational, reasonable note didn’t deter Finn in the least. In fact, as she watched him stride around the kitchen, Darby wondered where the man who’d pressed sexy morning kisses on her had gone.

  Hot, sexy Finn was nowhere in sight.

  Cold, focused Chief Colton had taken his place.

  As she watched him rally his resources, calling in orders to his team at the precinct and then putting in a call to the D.A.’s office to request a warrant, she had to give him credit. The man she’d made out with an hour before may have vanished, but the sharp-eyed, focused cop who’d taken his place looked more than capable of catching a killer.

  Chapter 13

  Finn made his pitch to the D.A.’s office and, in a matter of hours, a warrant was making its way through the system to allow him to enter his cousin’s home.

  While he’d waited, he’d run Lotte through several pieces of Demi’s clothing and had also purchased a few pregnancy tests on the way on the off chance Lotte could process the plastic scent and chemicals in the test strip to make a match somewhere in the apartment.

  It was a long shot, but since he’d been sitting on this damn case for nearly a month without a lead, he’d take what he could get.

  Carson was with him. Darby and Serena had wanted to join, as well. He’d ultimately won the battle, arguing they couldn’t enter a suspect’s house, but it was a close thing. His sister had clearly had some half-cocked idea that insulting him might change his mind. Since “close-minded stick-in-the-mud” hurt less than a paper cut, he’d won the round and left them with the baby, the remaining muffins, and a solemn promise that he and Carson would come back and tell them everything.

  “Serena pressed me again before we left, trying to convince me Demi is innocent,” Carson said to break the silence. “Evidence is evidence, but my gut says she’s innocent.”

  “I hope she is.” Finn wanted that, he realized, more than he’d understood. He wanted his cousin to be innocent. Wanted there to be an answer to why she was on the run and hiding from them and the help they could provide. But he couldn’t run from the facts, either.

  That knowledge was sobering, but it kept him focused on their problem. “Look, we can’t keep going on instinct with this. We need proof. There’s a killer on the loose, and if Demi is carrying Bo Gage’s child, she had some degree of motive.”

  “I know,” Carson said. “Damn it, I know.”

  “So what has you hesitant all of a sudden?”

  Carson was probably his best detective, so the fact that the man seemed so at odds with the investigation was a surprise. He couldn’t dismiss the fact that it was Carson’s brother who’d been murdered. Yet, somehow, it seemed bigger than that. And ran deeper, too.

  “It’s just that I can’t think of a pregnant woman without thinking of Serena and Lora. It’s messing with my head.”

  And there it was.

  Finn considered and then tried to play devil’s advocate. “Not every pregnant woman is as gloriously happy as my sister.”

  “No, but rarely, if ever, are pregnant women driven to murder.”

  Finn couldn’t fully fault Carson’s logic. Hormones might be at play—and he knew from his sister’s behavior the past few months that they could be intense at times—but the leap to murder was a big one. Even if Demi was a tough woman, her ability to handle herself as a bounty hunter didn’t mean she’d suddenly turned to murder to take care of men who pissed her off.

  “That’s pretty amazing how Darby came up with the food angle.” Even though he couldn’t see it for driving, it was hard to miss Carson’s smile as it imprinted in his words. “The woman can cook some seriously delicious muffins and she’s a pretty solid detective. She’s a keeper, Chief.”

  Since his own thoughts hadn’t been too far off the mark, Finn could hardly argue with Carson’s assessment. So he ignored it, pulling into the small parking lot fronting Demi’s apartment complex. “Let’s get to work.”

  Finn retrieved the key from the super before circling back to the SUV to pick up Lotte and Carson.

  They headed straight to Demi’s apartment and let themselves in, the stale air proof no one had been there in a few weeks.

  “She’s pretty neat,” Carson said, pulling on a pair of rubber gloves from his pocket as he walked the perimeter of the apartment. “I hate to say it, but for that reason alone I can’t see her putting up with my brother.”

  Since Finn had seen Bo’s clutter firsthand—and Darby’s compulsive need to clean up after him—he had to agree with the assessment. He headed for the apartment’s single bedroom, pulling on a pair of gloves of his own before riffling through Demi’s closet. Several hangers were empty, giving more credence to the fact that she’d run. Opting for something with an even stronger scent, Finn went to the bed and pulled off several pillows.

  He called Lotte to him, using the pillow to instruct her on what he was looking for. He then opened one of the pregnancy test kits, holding the small stick and walking her through his instructions once more.

  Pillow. Test. Pillow. Test.

  He gave her a few minutes to adjust to his intentions and, before he could instruct her further, she was off. She retraced Carson’s walk around the perimeter of the living room before working her way into the center of the apartment in slowly narrowing circles. It took a little less than two minutes before she found her spot. On a deep bark, she sat, her tail thumping on the h
ardwood floor.

  “Damn,” Carson muttered. “That was fast. She’d give Merlin a run for his money.”

  “She does give Merlin a run for his money.” Finn shot him a grin, exceedingly proud of his girl. “And she’s a heck of a lot cuter.”

  “Don’t let Elle hear you say that. She loves that bulldog more than life itself.”

  “Our secret,” Finn muttered as he dropped beside Lotte and began feeling around the wooden planks of the floorboards. He ran his fingers over the smooth wood, satisfied when he felt the slightest give beneath his fingertips. He pulled a small knife out of his all-purpose kit and used it to pry at the board.

  “You find something?”

  “Looks like.” The board came loose with minimal tugging and, in moments, Finn was staring down into a hidey-hole.

  One that contained a pregnancy test that read positive, a stack of letters, and a photo of Demi and Bo during better times. There was a large red X over Bo’s face and the word liar was scrawled across the photo.

  Carson dropped to his knees beside Finn and let out a long, low whistle. “Wow. This does not look good.”

  “You can say that again.”

  Unwilling to simply sit and stare at the incriminating evidence, Finn began the careful work of removing Demi’s belongings.

  And another layer of proof that she had a vendetta against Bo Gage.

  * * *

  Darby bundled up against the cold in the oversize puffy coat Serena had lent her and gave Penny and Lucy a chance to stretch their legs. They’d stared longingly when Lotte had gone out earlier with Finn and Carson, and she’d finally taken pity on the two of them and taken them out for some exercise. The morning air was brisk but gave her a chance to clear her head as the dogs went off to sniff around on uncharted territory.

  She’d made out with Finn this morning. It had caught her off guard at just how good it had felt to have a man’s body pressed to hers after so long. Even now, she could still feel the imprint of his solid form against her skin. Which shouldn’t have been a surprise, but was a reminder of just how much had been missing from her life.

  Of course, none of it changed the fact that they were in a tense situation and it was natural to seek comfort where available. It didn’t mean there was truly something there. They could enjoy each other’s company—could even move things forward and satisfy the physical—but that wouldn’t guarantee something long-term.

  When had she begun thinking of him in that way?

  A week ago he was her enemy, his suspicions that she could be a murderess a massive gaping hole between them. And now here she was thinking about having a relationship with the man. Was she mad?

  Or had she come to see him in a new light?

  He was a good cop. She’d seen his dedication firsthand, including his willingness to put himself in the line of fire as they hunted a killer. She’d also seen him with his niece, making funny faces and sticking out his tongue to get a smile as he’d held her safely in the crook of his arm.

  And then there was Lotte. His dedication and devotion to the dog indicated respect and affection as well as a dedication to the animal’s well-being. There was a kinship there and absolute trust.

  Was it really so silly to look at each of those things and tally them in the good column?

  “What is with all that racket?”

  The imperial voice interrupted her thoughts, seeming to float out of the ether behind her.

  Darby whirled and came face to face with Joanelle Colton. “Mrs. Colton.”

  “Do I know you?”

  “I’m Darby Gage. I’m a friend of Serena’s.”

  “A Gage?”

  Darby could have sworn the woman actually stared down her nose at Darby’s introduction but she held her ground. “Yes. By marriage.”

  “One of Carson’s people, then?”

  “I should have been clear. My former marriage. I kept the name Gage.”

  Something lit in Joanelle’s gaze, dark and calculating. “You’re the ex-wife. The one who inherited the dead man’s possessions.”

  Other than Penny, there’d been minimal possessions to possess but Darby chose not to point that out. “I used to be married to Bo Gage, yes. I’m sorry for his death and for Carson’s loss.”

  She could have sworn the woman muttered something about one less Gage in the world but couldn’t be entirely sure. Joanelle’s reputation preceded her, but was she truly that cold?

  “What are you doing here, Ms. Gage? And why are you letting those dogs roam over my property?”

  “They’re getting some morning exercise. And I know how to clean up after my pets.”

  “Mama!” Serena slipped from the house, a large blanket wrapped around her shoulders as she quickly crossed the yard. “What are you doing out in the cold?”

  “I saw this woman on our property and I came to investigate.”

  “Darby is my friend. And last evening she was my houseguest. Surely you could be a bit more welcoming.”

  Joanelle let out a small huff before plastering on a smile. “What brings you out to the ranch, Darby?”

  “She stayed here with Finn last night. It wasn’t safe to go back to her home.”

  Joanelle’s eyes grew round and her already stiff frame seemed to go positively brittle. “Why ever not?”

  “They were out for the evening and had an issue. Someone lurking in the shadows. Finn felt it best to stay here.”

  “He’s the chief of police. While he may have trouble catching a killer, surely he can manage to keep one woman’s home safe from harm?” Joanelle pressed on. “And whatever possessed you to allow them to stay here? You have an infant in the house and you’re welcoming in a woman who’s drawn the attention of our town’s criminal element after everything that happened here last month? I must go speak to your father about this.”

  Joanelle huffed off without a backward glance and Darby wasn’t sure if she should be grateful or prepare to suit up for round two.

  “And that would be my mother.” Serena waved a hand in the general direction of Joanelle’s departure. “The very definition of hospitality.”

  “I don’t know. She may have a point.” Although the delivery was designed to belittle and demean, Darby couldn’t argue with Joanelle’s underlying meaning. “You do have a baby. You don’t need the sort of trouble that’s been hovering around me in your home.”

  Serena closed the short distance between them and wrapped Darby in a tight hug. “It’s fine. And the ranch is now one of the safest places in Red Ridge. You don’t need to give it another thought. Nor do you need to worry about being here.”

  “But what about Lora?”

  “No buts.” Serena silenced her before she could protest further. “Come on. Let’s go inside. It’s cold and I’ve got hot coffee and a cute baby to distract us from my mother’s unpleasant welcome.”

  Darby followed Serena into the house but couldn’t shake the melancholy Joanelle had managed to impart in their short meeting. Nor could she fully shake the sadness that lingered when she thought of Finn growing up under the cold and unfeeling presence of Joanelle Colton.

  * * *

  “You okay?” Finn glanced over at Darby, seated in his passenger seat, when he pulled to a stop a few streets away from the police station. He and Carson had already been there to secure the evidence, then had headed back to the ranch to provide the promised updates on what they found to Serena and Darby.

  After an elaborate game Finn had mentally dubbed “you’ll stay with me no I won’t” had finally ended to his satisfaction, he and Darby had run Penny and Lucy back to her house and were now on their way to the precinct.

  “I’m fine,” Darby said.

  “You’re mad at me, but that’s okay. I know you’d rather have your day back and time to yourself, but I’m not comfortable having yo
u stay at home alone just yet.”

  “What is possibly going to happen to me? And while I have absolute faith in you that you will catch the Groom Killer, do you expect to babysit me until he or she is caught?”

  “Any number of things could happen to you.”

  “In my own home? With two German shepherds to protect me?”

  “Could you humor me for a few hours? Something has had me itchy since last night and I’d rather know you’re okay.”

  She didn’t agree but, for the first time since leaving Serena’s, she didn’t argue, either, so he figured that was progress.

  The precinct was quiet for a Sunday but busier than usual. The Groom Killer murders had everyone on high alert and every member of his staff was pulling extra time to try to stop the killer from striking again. The evidence he’d discovered at Demi’s had been logged in and the team had been eager to begin a review of the forensics.

  Although the evidence was heavily weighted to the circumstantial, coupled with Bo’s bloody handwriting at the scene of his murder, it didn’t paint a good picture of Demi’s involvement.

  Darby stared at the items in the evidence bags spread out on a table in the conference room, but didn’t touch anything. “These are the items you and Carson found at Demi’s apartment?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where’d you find them?”

  “Lotte sniffed them out in the floorboards.”

  Darby leaned closer, but still didn’t make any attempt to touch anything before standing to question him. “She found a pregnancy test?”

  “She’s sensitive to a lot of scents.”

  “Including plastic?”

  Finn considered all the tests they’d run on the various members of the K-9 team. “The dogs can find natural scents the easiest, but you’d be amazed what they can detect. Most recently we’ve been running trials on electronics equipment.”

  “Lotte can smell metal and plastic?”